"He Just Doesn't Understand You. Not Like I Do" - Tumblr prompt request from VorchaGirl :)

Beta'ed by the lovely Mordinette


He Just Doesn't Understand You. Not Like I Do"


Thane leaned against the window, his forehead pressed against the cool glass, staring at the pulsing haze of the drive core without really seeing it. He'd just ended a vid-call with Kolyat, and it hadn't gone well.

They had been working on rebuilding their relationship for the past few weeks, and Thane had finally decided to tell him about his relationship with Kaelyn, and his son had been less than supportive.

Not that he could really blame Kolyat; their first and only encounter hadn't exactly been pleasant after all. Thane also knew that his son still held a lot of anger towards him for the mistakes he'd made in the past, and this revelation had just added kindle to the fire.

The Life Support door hissed open and the sound of familiar footsteps approached him. Thane felt a smile play over his lips as he felt delicate arms slip around his waist and the warm, feminine body press against his back. The welcoming floral scent of her soap assaulted his senses and he immediately felt the tension leave his body.

Kaelyn pressed her cheek against his shoulder. "How did it go?" she asked, voice soft, but Thane knew her well enough to note the hint of nervousness there.

Thane sighed, resting his hands atop hers. "About as well as I expected."

She gave a sound of acknowledgement, and hearing the disappointed sound, Thane gave a gentle tug on her arm and pulled her in front of him as he enfolded her in his arms. "You needn't worry, siha. Kolyat will come around. He just needs time."

He hoped.

Kaelyn gave him a dubious look. "I shot at your son, Thane. I don't blame him for being upset."

"You did not shoot at him, Shepard. You shot the lamp near him. Had you not taken that shot, he would have shot Talid, and my son would be in jail on murder charges." He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I can never thank you enough for that."

She smiled, but it was gone too fast for Thane's liking. "But he still hates me for it."

The drell tucked a lock of chestnut hair behind her ear and gave her a sad smile in return. "He simply does not understand you. Not as I do."

A sly smile suddenly spread across her lips and she pulled him away from the window and hoisted herself up on his desk. "That's a good thing. It would make our situation very, very awkward indeed."

"Siha," Thane groaned at her bad joke, but couldn't keep his own grin from touching his lips as his arms wrapped back around her. "You are incorrigible."

Kaelyn's grin widened as she wrapped her arms around his neck, giving him a quick kiss. "You love me."

"I do," he agreed. He had never expected to find love again, especially not with a human.

But he did, and he loved her in a way he had no words for. She had awoken him from a sleep he never thought he would wake from. She had given him back his son. She was his reason to keep breathing, to keep fighting, and not resigning himself to death or the cold isolation he'd placed himself in for so long. He kissed her then, pouring every ounce of love and gratitude that he felt into that kiss.

Oh yes, he loved this woman. And given time, he was certain his son would come to love her, too.